Montessori 101

1. Montessori 101 Welcome to By Ms. Venus

2. Montessori Philosophy • “Every unnecessary help is really a hindrance to development” • Prepared environment and materials based on specific needs depending on the plane of development • “Curriculum” is called Cosmic Education • Self construction based on natural human tendencies

3. What to expect at MVMPCS • a unique, specific emphasis on cooperation, community and peace education…community meetings • focus on individual child development academically, socially and emotionally • encouragement of child independence and personal responsibility • self-paced learning • control of errors built into the environment

4. What to expect at MVMPCS (continued) • expectation of academic work and allowance for other “work” like grace and courtesy, leadership development, community service • allowance and encouragement of child choice and child involvement in classroom community • assessment (“tested”) through many avenues • students are taught through discovery and exploration • lessons are usually given to small groups and individuals • socialization will occur and is expected during work time

5. What NOT to expect at MVMPCS • linear learning and lessons • external motivators like stickers, red ink • external behavior management that is based on points or clips • letter grades • Regular, class-wide formal assessments like unit tests • Contests or competitions

6. Montessori Vocabulary

7. Prepared environment the classroom is an entity unto itself and contains the essentials for optimal development. Attributes of a prepared environment are: order and reality, beauty and simplicity. Every thing is child sized to enhance the child’s independent functioning. The teacher is considered part of the prepared environment and preparing this environment appropriately is one of a Montessori guide’s greatest tasks.

8. Work cycle Through observation Montessori came to understand that when left in freedom, children displayed a distinct work cycle. It has two peaks and one valley and lasts about 3 hours. This is why there is a 3-hour uninterrupted work cycle in the mornings.

9. False fatigue Approximately at 10 am children seem to lose interest in work, their behavior becomes disorderly and the noise level rises. They will return to work on their own.

10. Work children learning and experimenting in a relatively pressure free environment. In general the child’s work will be activity that meets developmental needs and given freedom and time, the child will choose purposeful activities to achieve fulfillment of those needs.

11. Control of error a way of providing instant feedback. Every Montessori activity provides the child with some way of assessing his/her own progress

12. Practical life These are lessons on skills needed for everyday life and are vastly different over the age ranges. These help the child adapt to new community, learn self-control and begin to se self as contributing party of social unit.

13. Independence normal developmental milestones such as weaning, walking, talking, etc. Throughout the four planes of development, the child and young adult continuously seek to become more independent.

14. Grace and courtesy Lessons that demonstrate positive social behavior to help them adapt to life in a group and to provide socially acceptable behavior cues.

15. Additional Resources • Books: • Angelina Stoll Lillard, Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius • Paula Polk Lillard, Montessori Today: A Comprehensive Approach to Education from Birth to Adulthood • Maria Montessori, The Secret of Childhood. • Maria Montessori, The Discovery of the Child • Maren Schmidt, Understanding Montessori: A Guide for Parents • Websites, in addition to those listed on www. mvms.info: • http://www.maitrilearning.com/resources.html. the pdf files, in particular, are informative • http://www.montessori-ami.org/